Display cabinet



June 2, 1964 w. c. BURKHOLDER Filed July 26, 1961 mmazaowcaumawe:

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WDUDRUWLLBL/RKHULDEH 5 Filed July 26, 1961 United States Patent 3,135,568 DISPLAY CABINET Woodrow (I. Burkholder, Westchester, Ill., assignor to Swift & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 26, 1961, Ser. No. 126,951 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-116) This invention relates generally to refrigerated display cabinets; and more particularly deals with a novel cover assembly for adapting normally open top self-service type refrigerated cabinets to a sales person serviced delicatessen type cabinet. I

With the advent of large selfservice type supermarkets, design and production of sales and display equipment has immediately followed with self-service type apparatus. Accordingly, the major portion of such equipment available on the market today is of a type designed to permit the customer to select and withdraw items himself. Because of the availability of this type equipment, and also because of its flexibility of utilization once such equipment is permanently fixed in a salesarea, store owners now install self-service equipment almost tothe complete exclusion of other display and storage apparatus which must be attended by sales people.

However, it is often advantageous for a store owner to provide sales personnel for. the merchandising of specialty items which are not normally packaged in consumer sized units. Examples of such products, in the food industry, are many tableready meats, such as the larger sausages and wursts, and also many cheeses which, due to their processing, are best or only produced and kept in large units. These items usually require refrigeration and must be sliced or otherwise subdivided at the time individual sales are made.

Furthermore, many items, for instance sausage, are. somewhat seasonal in certain geographical areas; and.

while it may be advantageous for a store owner to preprepare and package consumer units of such products, when the sale of theseitems is relatively fast and they will not remain long in the display cabinets, it is often of greater advantage to provide attendants to separatelyprocess and package each sale. Thus during some periods the store owner may naturally desire that his sales apparatus be of a self-service type. However, it may often be the situation during the greater portion of a year, that purchasers will desire to View the product in the larger units and have selected portions prepared for them. In the latter instance, it is more advantageous for the store owner to display the large items in a closed case and have a sales person in atendance-to service the customers.

Thus it often happens that when a store is first estab lished, all sales equipment will be of the self-service type. However, thereafter the season and/ or clientele may dictate that serviced counters should be provided for specialty items.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for readily converting an existing self-service type refrigerated cabinet to a closed and attended display cabinet,

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved readily convertible display cabinet having a removable canopy to selectively provide either a self-service type display case or an attendant serviced case.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved viewable cover assembly. and display shelf for rigidity to the canopy Zi).

- justably secured to the bottom rails 25 by a normally self-service refrigerated cabinet whereby sales of displayed items are conducted by store personnel.

Basically my device comprises a windowed canopy adjustably adaptable to be supported upon the-open top of a self-service type refrigerated display cabinet, and devised to permit the normal circulation of cool air across the display area of the cabinet. The canopy also pref erably includes access doors between its top and the rear edge of the self-service cabinet; and an adjustable display rack whereby the items stored therein may be inclined for better view through the canopy.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a persptive view of the canopy in place on one type of self-service cabinet, which is shown in phantom; a

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the canopy with parts removed, taken apart from a self-service type cabinet; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an adjustable display shelf utilized within the cabinet when the canopy is placed thereon.

Referring to .the drawings, in FIGURE 1 a familiar self-service type cabinet, generally it), is shown in phantom. Such units are well known and universally have an open top defined by a rim 11 extending across the back and sides, and an outer front panel 12. The front panelis often of transparent material, such as glass, fixed Within a metal frame, as illustrated. A horizontal display shelf 13 is normally provided below the level of the rim 11 and front panel 12. The space above the display shelf 13 is most often cooled by chilled air which iscirculated through an entrance channel 14 at the back of the cabinet and an exhaust channel 15 at the front of the cabinet. The cooling air exhaust channel 15 is often defined by the front panel 12 and an inner transparent front panel 16. Thus, the air circulates from the back of the cabinet across the product stored therein and down between panels 12 and 16 to a compartment beneath the display shelf 13 wherein cooling coils and circulating fans, not shown, are located.

I provide .a canopy. unit generally 20 to rest upon the top of the rear portion of the rim ll1 and front 12 of the self-service unit 10 throughout its length, or a portion thereof, to compartmentalize all or a part of the self-service case for service by an attendant. The canopy 20 is constructed of a frame skeleton manufactured from metal angles, preferably stainless steel, aluminum or chrome plated metal, to which transparent coverings are attached.

The frame preferably consists of aplurality of substantially trapezoidal shaped end frames generally 23 having a top rail 24 and a bottom or base rail 25 connected by angled front and back rails 26, 27, respectively. For.

nected together by a pair of top rails 31, 32.. '1 have found it advantageous to provide additional center frames generally 33, which are congruent with the end frames 23, at intervals of about three feet measured along the top rails 31, 32. These additional center frames 33 add 'Ea'ch end frame 23"is provided with anextendable horizontal support 35, preferably coextensive with the bottom rails 25. Each horizontal support 35 is provided with slots 36 in the body thereof so that itmay be ada pair ofbolts and nuts'37. Furthermore, it is desirable "to bend the ends of the horizontal supports 35 downwardly so ,as to be-securely'engageable with the front panel lZ of the self-service unit generally 10.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, when the canopy Z is placed upon the self-service unit it), the back corners of end frames 23 are placed upon the cabinet rim l1 and the horizontal supports 35 are placed on the front panel 12. When thus positioned, the depending blind frames 28 extend below the open top level of the self-service unit generally and effectively separate any portion of the cabinet to be serviced from non-serviced areas, and also confines the flow of chilled air to insure adequate cooling of the entire covered space.

Where it is desired to cover a relatively long cabinet or a long portion of a cabinet with a canopy 2% it is also preferable to provide vertical supports 3? for each center frame 33. These vertical supports may be in the shape of an inverted T with the shank threaded so as to be adjustably screwed into threaded holes in the appropriate bottom rail and blind frame.

The above-described frame skeleton is provided with a number of exterior panels, preferably secured to the frame members by suitable fasteners such as screws or bolts or the like. A top panel generally 43 is preferably constructed of two parts, namely, a transparent front section 44 and a stronger rear section 45. The rear section 45 of the top panel 4-3 may be manufactured of a stainless or porcelained metal so as to provide a work area or support for scales or other equipment. Both top panels may best be secured to the outside of the frame members.

Each end frame 23 is similarly provided with panels 48, 49 which may be fully transparent. All of the transparent panels may be constructed of either glass or plastic. A transparent front panel 51 is provided in one or more sections; however, it is important to this invention that the lower edge 52 of the front panel 51 is at a level su'lliciently higher than the lower edge of the blind frame 28 so as to leave an opening 53 between it and'the shelf or inner front panel 16 of the self-service unit it). This construction is essential so that the cool air exhaust channel will be in circulatory communication with the cool air beneath the canopy 24 Preferably the front and end panels are fastened to the underside of the frame lgfhi l e not absolutely essential to this invention, I prefer to locate sliding doors 55 at the rear of the canopy between the rear section 4-5 of top panel 43 (and rail 32 and the rim 11 of the cabinet 1%. As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the doors 55 may be slidably mounted between an extruded metal track 56 fastened to the underside of top rail 32 and another extruded track 57 which is fastened to the back of the refrigerator cabinet mm 11. Obviously hinged access doors could also be employed. It is to be understood that the canpoy 20 would also be equally useful if the doors were eliminated and the back left 0 en.

f rii so pref r to include an adjustable display rack generally 59 to sit upon the normally horizontal display shelf 13 of the refrigerated cabinet. In this way. a store operator can better display products in an inclined posture for better view through the front panel 51. The ad ustable display rack 59 consists of a shelf dill which s preferably made pervious to permit circulation of arr above and below the shelf surface. The shelf 6t) has an upstanding toe flange 61 along one side and a depending heel flange 62 beneath the opposite side. The heel flange 62 is slotted at 63 and is slidably disposed upon a base 64, constructed of angle metal, which is also correspondingly slotted at es, and provided with adjustable wing nuts 66. Accordingly, the elevation of heel flange 62 upon the base 64 may be adjusted and the parts fastened together with the wing nuts 66 in slots 63 and 65.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved and convertible display case comprising, in combination: an open top cabinet having front and back rims containing cold air circulation channels; a supporting shelf within said cabinet below the level of said rims; and a removable canopy supportable above said cabinet upon said rims, said canopy including at least a pair of end frames, means to support said end frames upon said front and back rims with a portion of said end frames extending below the level of said rims, horizontal frame members connecting said end frames, and a plurality of panel members covering at least two exterior end frames and top and front areas defined by said horizontal frame members therebetween, the bottom edge of the front panel situated so as to extend within said cabinet while leaving exposed the air circulation channel in the front rim of said cabinet.

2. An improved and convertible display case comprising, in comibnation: an open top cabinet having front and back rims containing cold air circulation channels; a supporting shelf within said cabinet below the level of said rims; a removable canopy supportable above said cabinet upon said rims, said canopy including at least a pair of end frames, portions of which extend within said cabinet, adjustable means to support said end frames upon said front and and back rims, horizontal frame members connecting said end frames, a plurality of panel members covering at least two exterior end frames and top and front areas defined by said horizontal frame members therebetween, the bottom edge of the front panel situated so as to extend within said cabinet while leaving exposed the air circulation channel in the front rim of said cabinet; and an adjustably inclined display shelf set upon said supporting shelf beneath said canopy so as to slope downwardly from back to front Within said cabinet.

3 The convertible display case of claim 1, including access doors mounted between the top of said canopy and said back rim of said cabinet between said end frames.

4. As an article of manufacture, an improved canopy adapted to be placed upon a refrigerated self-service type display cabinet having a cold air return channel along its front rim, said canopy comprising: a pair of end frames, said end frames being generally trapezoidal in shape with blind frames depending therefrom and intended to be supported from the rim of the display cabinet with the blind frames extending downwardly Within said cabinet; horizontal frame members connecting the top members of said end frames; end panels fastened to each of said end frames; a top panel fastened between said horizontal frame members and said end frames; and a transparent front panel fastened between corresponding side members of said end frames and beneath one of said horizontal frame members so as to extend within said display cabinet, the bottom edge of said front panel being situated at a level to leave an opening between said front panel of said canopy and the display cabinet whereby cold air will be free to circulate to said return channel.

5. As an article of manufacture, an improved canopy adapted to be placed upon a refrigerated self-service type display cabinet having a cold air return channel along its front rim, said canopy comprising: a pair of end frames, said end frames being generally trapezoidal in shape having substantially parallel top and base member and inclined side members, the back of said base members intended to rest upon the back rim of the display cabinet; extensible support members projecting from the front of each of said base members of said end frames, said extensible members adapted to rest upon the front rim of said display cabinet; blind frames depending beneath the base member of each end frame so as to project interiorly of said display cabinet; horizontal frame members connecting the top members of said end frames; transparent end panels fastened to each of said end frames and said depending blind frames; a top panel fastened between said horizontal frame members and said end frame; and a transparent front panel fastened between corresponding a side members of said end frames and beneath one of said horizontal frame members so as to extend within said display cabinet, the bottom edge of said front panel extending below the level of said base members, but terminating above the level of said blind frames so as to leave an opening between said front panel of said canopy and the display cabinet whereby cold air will be free to circulate to said return channel.

6. The device of claim 5 including sliding access doors mounted between said remaining side members of said end frames and below a horizontal frame member at the back of said canopy.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Latshaw Dec. 22, 1903 Orthwine July 16, 1929 Edwards Apr. 11', 1944 Fredenhagen Aug. 8, 1950 Merkle Dec. 23, 1952 Knight Nov. 3, 1953 Holderle Dec. 8, 1953 Adkins Mar. 7, 1961 Johnson Nov. 6, 1962 

2. AN IMPROVED AND CONVERTIBLE DISPLAY CASE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN OPEN TOP CABINET HAVING FRONT AND BACK RIMS CONTAINING COLD AIR CIRCULATION CHANNELS; A SUPPORTING SHELF WITHIN SAID CABINET BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID RIMS; A REMOVABLE CANOPY SUPPORTABLE ABOVE SAID CABINET UPON SAID RIMS, SAID CANOPY INCLUDING AT LEAST A PAIR OF END FRAMES, PORTIONS OF WHICH EXTEND WITHIN SAID CABINET, ADJUSTABLE MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID END FRAMES UPON SAID FRONT AND AND BACK RIMS, HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS CONNECTING SAID END FRAMES, A PLURALITY OF PANEL MEMBERS COVERING AT LEAST TWO EXTERIOR END FRAMES AND TOP AND FRONT AREAS DEFINED BY SAID HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS THEREBETWEEN, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE FRONT PANEL SITUATED SO AS TO EXTEND WITHIN SAID CABINET WHILE LEAVING EXPOSED THE AIR CIRCULATION CHANNEL IN THE FRONT RIM OF SAID CABINET; AND AN ADJUSTABLY INCLINED DISPLAY SHELF SET UPON SAID SUPPORTING SHELF BENEATH SAID CANOPY SO AS TO SLOPE DOWNWARDLY FROM BACK TO FRONT WITHIN SAID CABINET. 